Holiday Travels

Before you leave to catch your flight (and you should leave early), It's worth remembering, that there are several steps you can take to minimize delays and stress at the airport.

Program important numbers on your phone as well as have a list written down in another place in case you loose your phone. This way, when a foot of snow is dumped on your holiday travel plans, you can react immediately and find an alternative. Also, pack your gifts wisely, and remember that wrapped gifts in your carry-on will likely be unwrapped by TSA officials (you can even ship your gifts directly to the recipiant). Be creative with other difficult to pack items (like skis) and weigh the cost of baggage fees versus shipping costs. And last but certainly not least, don't feel bad about shopping last minute at the airport.

It has been predicted there will be a slight drop in overall travel this Christmas. Only 8.1 million travelers out of 63.9 million are flying, that means a lot of people are driving—some 52 million people, to be exact.
For all the road warriors out there here are some tips for a safe drive.

• Getting caught in a storm is a nightmare, but you can feel safer by preparing a winter emergency kit for your car, which includes a sandbag, shovel, blanket, first-aid kit, flares, flashlight, waterproof matches, chains, food, and water.
  
• Be sure that your car is equipped with a spare tire and jumper cables.

• It's important that your vehicle is in tip-top shape before you hit the (possibly icy) roads. Make sure to get the oil changed, add snow tires, and have a complete run-through of brakes, ignition, and battery systems.
  
• Check the interstate weather forecast to avoid any possibly dangerous storms on your travel route.
  
• Check with your car insurance to see if you have roadside assistance for emergencies, and program the number into your cell phone. This way if you do require towing or a jumpstart, you have somewhere to turn.
  
• Slow down and be alert. Make sure that you are well rested and that you keep a steady pace, so you arrive at grandmother's house in one piece.

Stay safe and
Happy Holiday Travels!

Top 5 Travel Tips for International Travelers

1.Emergency Contact: Leave copies of your passport and itinerary with family or friends.

2.Health Care: Investigate if your insurance policy includes foreign medical treatment or if you need any vaccines for your destination. Take any medications with you.

3.Pack Smart: Dress conservatively to avoid attracting the attention of thieves. Also don’t pack so much that you’ll regret lugging around a heavy suitcase.

4.Think Safety: Research your destination’s suggested safety tips before you fly. Your Morris Murdock Travel Agent is a good resource for this information, as well as the U.S. Department of State.

5.Plan for the Unexpected: Take items that you will need if your trip is unexpectedly extended. I.e. money, medications, extra clothes, etc.

Pacific Northwest anyone?

Our pal, Rodney Smith wanted to share a few photos of how he spent the 4th of July weekend. He and his daughter went to Boulder Lake and went fishing. His 2 year old daugter, Miriam reeled in a nice brook trout.

On Sunday he caught a salmon on the Sandy River and Miriam and Rodney spent the day smoking some of the salmon that he caught in Alaska last week.

Check out the nice fish they both caught!!

This is what Rodney Caught.

This is what Miriam caught!

Look how cute she is!

This got me motivated. I am not a fisherman but somehow after seeing these photos I almost want to pack my family up and head to the great outdoors.

I would love to travel to the Northwest and catch the scenery, the whale watching and National Parks. Morris Murdock has a great deal on an Alaskan cruise. Click here for the details Airfare is included in the price and it is on a BEAUTIFUL Ship!!

I am looking forward to our Alaskan cruise in September. I will post pictures as soon as I get back. --Ashlee S.

Is travel insurance really worth it?

There are hundreds of circumstances that could cause you to cancel your trip, return home early or force you to seek emergency medical treatment while traveling. To demonstrate the importance of purchasing travel insurance, and emergency travel services, here are 10 common examples of what could go wrong, and why we would be more than happy to help you choose the perfect insurance plan that will cover your needs.

1. It's 10 p.m. and you and your immediate family arrive at the airport for a connecting flight, only to find that your flight has been cancelled. Who can assist you with finding new flights to get everyone home?

2. Your bag was lost with your insulin inside. You need help to locate your bag as soon as possible and have your emergency prescription filled. Who do you call?

3. Your first visit to Europe, and your passport and wallet are stolen. Where do you turn for emergency cash, and how will you get your passport replaced?

4. You're involved in an accident and adequate medical treatment is not available. Who will help arrange and pay for a medical evacuation?

5. If your sister-in-law becomes seriously ill and you must cancel your trip, what happens to your non-refundable deposits or pre-payments?

6. You arrive in Jamaica and your luggage doesn't. If it's lost, who will help you find it? If it's delayed, who will pay for your necessities? If it's stolen, who will pay to replace it?

7. Your cruise line, airline or tour operator goes bankrupt. Who will pay for your non-refundable expenses? Who will help get you to your destination?

8. You're walking down a street in Rio and twist your ankle. Who can help you find an English-speaking physician?

9. Three weeks before your scheduled arrival, a terrorist incident occurs in the city to which you are planning to visit. Who will pay if you want to cancel your trip?

10. You are at a beach resort in North Carolina, and you are forced to evacuate due to an approaching hurricane. Who will help you evacuate and who will reimburse your lost vacation investment?

It is hard to plan for the unknown and it's always better to be safe than sorry. We want to ensure you have a wonderful vacation. Ask us about affordable rates we can get for you and your loved ones.

Heaven on earth?

Cindy Butler recieved an email of some pretty pictures around the world. She thought she would share.

Mirror Lake

Saltzburg Austria

Breithorn Peak ( Switzerland )

Beauty of Tibet

Tundra

Neuschwannstein, King Ludwig's Castle in Bavaria, Germany

Edge of Glacier

View of Holland

Disneyland Castle

Lavender Farm and Tree

Cherry Blossoms Japan

The beauty of Antarctica

Autumn in Germany

Blue Sea

The Night Scene of Eiffel Tower

A Morris Murdock Heads-Up

A great deal out of SLC for a Princess Fall Foliage cruise…

Caribbean Princess Sep 21, 28th and Oct 5th…

7 day with a pre-night in New York City hotel, transfers, AIRFARE, and Canada New England itinerary! $1288.00 per person including taxes and transfers! It’s a GREAT deal! The prices wont last long so book quickly.

Where in the world was Cindy Kirby?

She went to WAIKIKI! April 25th- May 1st.

Cindy and her family stayed at the Sheraton Waikiki resort.

This Oahu hotel is perfect for families seeking Hawaii activities, couples in search of romance, or weary travelers seeking a rejuvenating escape. The Sheraton Waikiki Hotel and Resort is your gateway to Hawaii's favorite playground, Waikiki Beach.

Welcome back Cindy!